STATEMENT OF THE NEW JERSEY CATHOLIC CONFERENCE ON THE STATUS OF A VICTIMS COMPENSATION PROGRAM

The Roman Catholic Bishops of New Jersey announced on December 14, 2018, their decision to retain Kenneth R. Feinberg and Camille Biros to design, implement and administer a statewide Victims Compensation Program for the submission, evaluation, and settlement of individual claims of sexual abuse of a minor.

The Program would operate independently from any of the participating dioceses. The Administrators of the Program will have complete autonomy to determine eligibility of individual claims and the amount of compensation for victims who present a claim. This Program is intended to compensate eligible victims of child sexual abuse including those whose financial claims are legally barred by New Jersey's statute of limitations. Comments and observations from individuals and institutions, including victims, support groups, and members of the legislature, will be sought to ensure that the protocol that will guide the program will have input from stakeholders.

The Catholic Church in New Jersey already has provided some fifty million dollars in financial settlements to victims of abuse. The majority of those claims had been barred by the statute of limitations.

The Bishops noted that Mr. Feinberg and Ms. Biros are respected internationally. Among their many accomplishments, they have served as the Special Masters of the U.S. Government's September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and as Administrators of the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Victim Compensation Fund as well as Administrators of the victim assistance fund established in the wake of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Currently, Mr. Feinberg and Ms. Biros are administering victim compensation programs for victims of sexual abuse of minors for a number of Catholic dioceses in the States of New York and Pennsylvania.

This Program follows the many initiatives adopted by the Catholic Dioceses in New Jersey since 2002 to implement safeguards and procedures to provide safe environments for children and to provide assistance to victims.

BISHOP SERRATELLI'S STATEMENT ON THE PENNSYLVANIA GRAND JURY REPORT

The Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report issued on August 14, 2018 was profoundly upsetting to every person of good will. The abuses described in the report are criminal and morally reprehensible. They show a heartbreaking departure from our fundamental belief in the dignity and value of every child.

In the words of our Holy Father Pope Francis, we "acknowledge and condemn, with sorrow and shame, the atrocities perpetrated by consecrated persons, clerics and all those entrusted with the mission of watching over and caring for those most vulnerable. Let us beg forgiveness for our own sins and the sins of others." I personally am heartbroken at the pain so many have experienced because of these incidents, especially that of our children.

As a Church, we are called to provide an environment where our children and all encounter leaders who exemplify God's commandment to love and protect the most vulnerable. The Church today has and continues to learn hard lessons from its past, as we hold accountable abusers and those who permitted these abuses to occur.

The Pennsylvania report details abuses before the early 2000s. This Grand Jury's conclusions are consistent with previous studies showing that the 2002 reforms adopted by the Catholic Church in the United States drastically reduced the incidence of clergy child abuse. The Holy See encourages continued reform and vigilance at all levels of the Catholic Church, to help ensure the protection of minors and vulnerable adults.

New Jersey's Catholic dioceses have made concrete changes and reforms. Today we have conducted some 380,000 criminal background checks of all diocesan and parish personnel who have regular contact with minors. In addition, all Catholic dioceses have integrated a comprehensive program of reporting abuse to civil authorities, compensating and counseling victims, and implementing rigorous protocols and training for more than 2.3 million clergy, employees, volunteers and children. In our diocese, we have reported every single accusation of child abuse to prosecutors since the 2002 memorandum of understanding was put in place by the State of New Jersey with the bishops. We do not investigate ourselves.

We cannot undo the actions of the past, but we continue our efforts to protect our children. We thank law enforcement agencies, child protection advocates and victims themselves who have helped us move beyond compliance to creating the safest environments for learning and worship. We are deeply thankful for those who have joined our efforts to extend both healing and hope to every victim and their family. I, along with the bishops of New Jersey, renew our commitment to protect our young and to foster healing and seek forgiveness.

As your bishop, I understand your pain and your anger. It is real. Our faith is in the Jesus who has chosen to make the Church a sign and instrument of salvation. Even though sin may weaken our trust in the Church, we are called to work with the Church to make dramatic and necessary changes in her leadership and practices so that the Church truly be what Christ intends.

We need your prayers, your challenges, and your ideals. We need your faith. May God give us the grace to do his will and to be his holy people.

STATEMENT OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF NEW JERSEY

New Jersey’s Roman Catholic Bishops acknowledge that media accounts of the details contained in Pennsylvania’s grand jury report show a heartbreaking departure from our fundamental belief in the dignity and value of every child. As a Church, our calling remains unchanged - to help children in our care encounter leaders who exemplify God’s commandment to love and protect the most vulnerable.

As Bishops, we hold that every parent and every child deserve a safe environment to learn and explore their faith. Every space where teaching, worship, and ministry take place must provide this safe environment. There must be no compromise on this principle. The children entrusted to our care are treasures.

We cannot undo the actions of the past, but we shall remain vigilant to ensure that not one child will ever be abused on our watch.

New Jersey’s Catholic dioceses have conducted some 380,000 criminal background checks of all diocesan and parish personnel who have regular contact with minors. In addition, all Catholic dioceses have integrated a comprehensive program of reporting abuse to civil authorities, compensating and counseling victims, and implementing rigorous protocols and training for more than 2.3 million clergy, employees, volunteers and children.

We thank law enforcement agencies, child protection advocates and victims themselves who have helped us move beyond compliance to creating the safest environments for learning and worship. We are deeply thankful for those who have joined our efforts to extend both healing and hope to every victim and their family. We renew our commitment to foster healing and seek forgiveness.

We urge anyone who was abused by clergy to come forward to civil authorities.

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R. Archbishop, Archdiocese of Newark

Most Reverend David M. O’Connell, C.M. Bishop, Diocese of Trenton

Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan Bishop, Diocese of Camden

Most Reverend Arthur J. Serratelli Bishop, Diocese of Paterson

Most Reverend James F. Checchio Bishop, Diocese of Metuchen

N.J. Dioceses to establish victim compensation and counseling program

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, announced Nov. 19 that the Archdiocese of Newark and the Dioceses of Camden, Metuchen, Paterson and Trenton are committed to the establishment of a Victim Compensation and Counseling Program. The details and mechanics of this program will be finalized after consultation with - and input from - all stakeholders, and will be released when they are available.

This program will provide the resources to compensate those victims of child sexual abuse by clergy and employees of the Dioceses in New Jersey whose financial claims are legally barred by New Jersey’s statute of limitations. This will give victims a formal voice and allow them to be heard by an independent panel. The Cardinal said that the program also will assure that victims who have not received any financial compensation will be paid, regardless of whether their claims meet the time requirements of the statute of limitations. This initiative will expand on the current arrangement through which the Catholic Church in New Jersey already has provided some $50 million in financial settlements to victims of abuse. The vast majority of these claims had been barred by the statute of limitations. The program also will be a resource to provide permanent funding for necessary counseling to those who have been victimized. Such counseling so often is needed to help in the healing of those who have been harmed.

Cardinal Tobin also announced that the Roman Catholic Dioceses in New Jersey will undertake a complete review of their files so that, early next year, the names of all priests and deacons who have been credibly accused of the sexual abuse of minors will be made public. The dioceses will undertake this action in coordination with the Attorney General of New Jersey’s ongoing Task Force examining the issue of clergy sexual abuse. It is hoped that these steps will aid in the process of healing for victims, who are deserving of our support and prayers.